Internet service providers (ISP's)

[Jay Bunten]

This topic discusses Internet Service Providers available in the Cedar Ridge Area.

[Larry Snyder]

Are there any non-dialup (and non-ISDN) solutions for Cedar Ridge?? Has there been any progress in getting a high speed (wired) connection through Comcast, through a DSL line, etc. ?

[Jay Bunten]

Recently I had the opporunity to use a Wildblue Satellite internet connection and I was impressed with their capability. It is much improved over Starband. We found that with their basic package ($49.99 for 512 KBits down and 128 Kbits up), it took a little over three minutes to upload a 3MB file and 16 seconds to download it.

While it is not ComCast or DSL, it's available now to those who have a clear view of the southern sky. To be more exact. You have to be able to see the sky, at a 43° elevation and at 158° azimuth, while standing on your property.

According to the tech, the antenna can be installed on a steel pole as well as mounted on your home (roof or sidewall).

The equipment is $299.00 (antenna and modem), plus $179.00 for the standard installation. No DYI's allowed.

A couple of drawbacks; No VPN support and a fair use policy that limits band width usage. So downloading several 2 GB movies a month is probably going to hit the limiter on the basic plan.

I have ordered the service which is scheduled for installation on 12/21/07. I received a $50.00 rebate on the equipment and $100.00 off the installation.

I'll post back after the installation and let you know how it goes. My view of the 158° is tight, they make not be able to install it. We'll see.

[Jay Bunten]

Well that was easy enough. My Wildblue satellite service was installed yesterday (a week ahead of schedule) and all went well.

With their basic package I'm able to get about 70 Kbytes in the download stream and about 15 Kbytes in the upload stream. Not exactly Comcast speeds but a far cry from ISDN and dialup. Not to mention the cost saving over ISDN.

I streamed a couple of videos off of YOUTUBE with only a couple of minor hesitations.

It is a little slower that ISDN in the high turnaround situations. This is because the upload has to bid for that transmit channel and the bid channel loop is fairly large so it takes a bit to get control of an up channel. In a high turnaround protocol you just send a few packets and the go back to receive mode to get the response and it's back to bidding for an up channel to send a few more packets. But it's not too bad, overall no worse than IDSN at 64Kbits. A WAY better than dialup.

Both http, https and ftp worked out timeouts. I still have remote connection to try out.

Wildblue doesn't support VPN, you will have to use HughesNet for that. They are another $10.00 a month for the basic package. But you get 700 Kbits down rather than 512 Kbits for Wildblue.

While it's reported that you need Wildblue software installed to use the service, that is not true. Just connect the modem to a DSL/CABLE router and you can have a network of computers.

I did my homework as to the access to the Southern sky, otherwise they might not have installed it. You will need a clear shot to an azimuth of 150° at 43° of elevation. So get out your compass and inclinometer. The maximum cable run is about 100'.

Sad news is that I will be losing my long time email address: toyshop@goldrush. So I have set up a generic address that will be able to remain regardless of my current ISP. It is jay@rjbunten.com.

That's it for now, if you have any questions few free to ask.

[robsears]

Jay,
Sounds like you found the answer to high speed. Who did you have install your service. I called the Wild Blue installers in Twain Harte and they failed to show for our appointment time nor did they return my calls. There is another group in Oakdale that appears to be more responsible. I would love to see your setup. I am building a house on Broken Pine and have installed the structure wiring for satellite data and TV. Nice to compare notes
Rob

[Jay Bunten]

Rob,

I couldn't actually tell you which local group did the installation as I wasn't actually present at the time of installation.

I can tell you that they wouldn't have installed it with only my wife was here, because they couldn't EASILY find a spot. I had done my research, so I knew exactly where they could install it. David, he lives up the street, and I had discussed where I wanted the dish installed and he came down and explained the situation after which the installation went well.

I called the Wildblue national phone number on their website to schedule the installation. Later a local installer called to move the appointment up a week. Other than where to put it, all went well.

The snow has been a small problem since the dish is on the roof and the snow can cover it up. Even heaters won't fix that problem, so it's a trip to the antenna.

You can come by most any time to see my installation. My address is on the home page of the site.

Jay

[robsears]

Thanks Jay,
I may be in Cedar Ridge just before Easter. My house is going through the rough-in inspection as I type. I hope they don't mess with my structure wiring. The County building department said they are very liberal with the low voltage stuff- we'll see. Regardless, I notify you before I show up on your doorstep. Thanks for your help.
Rob

[Jay Bunten]

Last week AT&T managed to take out our phone service. The repair tech fixed it yesterday and I had a conversation with him about DSL availability in Cedar Ridge. While he isn't the official word on the subject, he was able to shed a little light on the problem.

It seems, as we already knew, that we are too far from the Twain Harte Central Office. Because of that AT&T needs to install a DSL repeater. The repeater itself isn't a big deal, but the fiber cable between it and Twain Harte seems to be the show stopper. I gather that there just isn't enough revenue in Cedar Ridge for AT&T to justify the cost.

It's too bad that they didn't get some of that Stimulas money that Mother Lode used to buy Goldrush.

[squinne]

I know its probably been a while since Ive heard about DSL in TH, has any one heard of any hope of something remotely in the 21st century in Cedar Ridge ???

[squinne]

check out this blog post by Google , I am sure Sonora or the people wouldn't sign up for this , but it would make it better to live there i think ... it has my vote

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/ ... -make.html

Does anyone belong to any of the local governments up there that might read this ?

[warrenplynch]

Jay,

I just installed Wild Blue satellite at my home in Cedar Ridge. I opted for the premier package that advertised 1.5Mbps download and 256 Kbps upload speed. I was intending on replacing my expensive ISDN service. Although WB doesn't support VPN, my company IT had a SSL version of VPN designed for satellite. Since the install my upload speed according to several Internet speed tests averages around 56Kbps. My ISDN tests around 120Kbps upload. Wild Blue did a service call and was unable to better upload speed. Their tech support tested my upload at a site called testmy.net. This site shows upload speed averages 300% higher than any other test site. It showed my upload speed at 150kbps. Wild Blue said this is the only test site they endorse and 150kbps is acceptable because their package description states "up to" 256Kbps. Further insult is my download speed drops to .5 Mbps in the early evening. Wild Blue is a rip off and I am now stuck with a 2 year contract.

[squinne]

As an update to ISP service here in cedar ridge , I just got my sonnet internet installed. As it turns out I had a weak signal from my roof , they installed the antenna from a tree , and it works great .. the cost 200 dollars to install the antenna , 199 for installation by sonnet , 99 for the wireless vpn router , and 39.95 for the monthly charge . my vote says yes

i get 2.5 mbps download and 3.5 mbps upload not too shabby

[warrenplynch]

A few questions:

1. Have you run speed tests to check download and upload speeds? The email I received from Sonnet stated download speed UP TO 3M and upload speed UP TO 1M.

2. Does speed vary due to busy hour time of day?

3. Have you used service to VPN into work?

Thanks,
Rick

[squinne]

comments inline

1. Have you run speed tests to check download and upload speeds? The email I received from Sonnet stated download speed UP TO 3M and upload speed UP TO 1M.

I used this link to check , whether or not its accurate I am not sure but it gives me an idea http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ used san fran , im sure your mileage may vary

2. Does speed vary due to busy hour time of day?

i didnt notice it , i am capped at 1.2 gig , so i tested some videos and did some downloads , worked well , I was suprised . I handed the laptop to my wife and she looked at her shopping stuff , the qvc and hsn site popped right up and she said she noticed no difference from our internet in Tracy ( 12mbs )

3. Have you used service to VPN into work?

Yes I have , it stayed up all day , worked just like a champ

Ok some more comments , i found the little program called netmeter and im going to look at how much im uploading and downloading real time . I will check any other program you may want to check upload and download speeds if you want .
This is our vacation /second home and I am not up there right now , but will be for a bit next week. I can rerun some speed tests and repost . I was really surprised that the VPN connection at work stayed up all day , I had to drop it manually .
ok as the installer was installing it and checking the signal from Elizabeth Peak ( which is not visible from the ground or roof from my house located on awahanee ) but is visible clearly from the trees around my house. which is sad cause i have a great view right above my house there. javascript:emoticon(':(') , said that he had a signal which was -40 db , he said was very good . so if you have a clear line of sight shot to Elizabeth Peak .. I had to use my GPS to get a reading to see where the elusive mountain top was. Ive hike all around cedar ridge and there arent many views from where I sit or hike to get a good view of it . If you call they will determine by your address if your even worth a try or not.. Then when they do come out , they do check around for the signal. Like I said he got a weak signal from my roof and informed me that was a good sign. They told me at that point that we could get a tree climber out to install the antenna..
DOwnsides : they only take checks and dont do online billing , so you have to snail mail the checks , go figure ? They even want checks or cash for the install , no credit cards .... bummer
second thing , they are kind of expensive , down here in the valley i have ATT UVERSE , the 12mbs internet , not capped as yet , but will be at 250 or 350 gig per month , and costs 45 per month and i was lucky and got a permanent credit of 10 a month , for 35 a month , so for 39.95 capped at 1.2 gig , is kind of expensive . I hope this helps

[warrenplynch]

I just had Sonnet Wireless Broadband installed. In order to get signal, Motherlode Tree Service put the antenna at the very top of my tallest pine. I have run the speedtest and I am getting 2.98Mps download and .95Mps upload. I tested VPN and it works great. I am totally thrilled. Thanks for the reference. I have been trying to get broadband here for 15 years.

I have bought their largest package which costs $99 month but I can now de-install Wildblue that I pay $85/month and my ISDN that I use for VPN that has a combined Telco and ISP cost of nearly $150/month. Life is good. I feel like I just joined the 21st century.

Rick Lynch